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Telephone Mouthpieces (Disinfection)

Volume 161: debated on Thursday 22 March 1923

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asked the Minister of Health whether, it in the opinion of his Department disease is spread, as is alleged, by means of mouthpieces of telephones, he will have those in public call-offices disinfected?

I am advised that there is no definite evidence to show that disease is spread in this way. As the result of bacteriological inquiries made in this country and, abroad some few years ago, it was held that the transmission of pulmonary tuberculosis through the medium of the telephone mouthpiece is practically impossible. In any event, the disinfections of telephone mouthpieces after each individual user would obviously be impracticable.